Beginner Education
• A dog leaves puppyhood and enters adolescence at about the age of 6 months.
The most challenging age is usually between 9 to 18 months (which is when most
dogs are surrendered to shelters). Some dogs pass through the phase with little
trouble, but most drive their owners crazy!
• Earn the right to roam. Crate for sleeping purposes, and to put your dog in
when you need some time to yourself. But don't stop there. Limit your dog's space
in the house to a manageable size until you are pretty sure he's trustworthy. Let
him use his doggie door when you are home and confine him when you're gone.
Give him more space as he proves himself worth it.
• Learn to play politely. If he has a habit of jumping take away his greeting
privileges.
• Exercise is essential. The only good adolescent is a tired adolescent.
• Learn to say please. Teach your dog to sit before he gets anything he wants -
food, attention, petting, whatever.
• Ignore your dog most of the time. Many behaviors will slowly fade away if you
pay no attention to them.
• Do not punish submissive behavior such as urination or cowering.
• The leash should ALWAYS be slack. A tight leash encourages frustration,
which in turn encourages aggression.
• Give the dog enrichment toys such as a stuffed Kong™
People Empowerment Program
• Do not pet, stroke or touch your dog unless he does something to deserve it -
like sit, down, etc. And ask him to sit each time he wishes some attention - make
him earn your praise.
• If you must have him on the bed, then make SURE he gets off cheerfully every
time you ask. If he has EVER growled at you from a piece of furniture, he should be
banished from all of them
• Pick up all the dog's toys and put them where he cannot get to them. Allow him
to have one, two or more at a time, and when he's finished with them, put them
back. No tug of war games, no rough-housing unless you win.
• Hold at least two obedience sessions every day. Each session should be
approximately 5-10 minutes, and should end on a successful note, even if you have
to backtrack to make the dog complete an exercise well.
Sarah Cross
(Copyright ©2007 by Sarah Cross)
The most challenging age is usually between 9 to 18 months (which is when most
dogs are surrendered to shelters). Some dogs pass through the phase with little
trouble, but most drive their owners crazy!
• Earn the right to roam. Crate for sleeping purposes, and to put your dog in
when you need some time to yourself. But don't stop there. Limit your dog's space
in the house to a manageable size until you are pretty sure he's trustworthy. Let
him use his doggie door when you are home and confine him when you're gone.
Give him more space as he proves himself worth it.
• Learn to play politely. If he has a habit of jumping take away his greeting
privileges.
• Exercise is essential. The only good adolescent is a tired adolescent.
• Learn to say please. Teach your dog to sit before he gets anything he wants -
food, attention, petting, whatever.
• Ignore your dog most of the time. Many behaviors will slowly fade away if you
pay no attention to them.
• Do not punish submissive behavior such as urination or cowering.
• The leash should ALWAYS be slack. A tight leash encourages frustration,
which in turn encourages aggression.
• Give the dog enrichment toys such as a stuffed Kong™
People Empowerment Program
• Do not pet, stroke or touch your dog unless he does something to deserve it -
like sit, down, etc. And ask him to sit each time he wishes some attention - make
him earn your praise.
• If you must have him on the bed, then make SURE he gets off cheerfully every
time you ask. If he has EVER growled at you from a piece of furniture, he should be
banished from all of them
• Pick up all the dog's toys and put them where he cannot get to them. Allow him
to have one, two or more at a time, and when he's finished with them, put them
back. No tug of war games, no rough-housing unless you win.
• Hold at least two obedience sessions every day. Each session should be
approximately 5-10 minutes, and should end on a successful note, even if you have
to backtrack to make the dog complete an exercise well.
Sarah Cross
(Copyright ©2007 by Sarah Cross)
